MMA News

Hendricks Says He Hasn’t Had To “Showcase” His Whole Skillset Until Now

“It’s a feeling,” Johny Hendricks said when asked why he thinks he’ll be the man to dethrone UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre this Saturday. “It’s that desire, that want. It’s something inside of me that you can’t explain.”

By Christopher Murphy @MurphMMA

If there is one consistency in MMA, it is the regularity with which UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre’s opponents have claimed to have the answer to defeat the long-time divisional king. St-Pierre’s effective victory over these opponents has been another consistency.

But still, hard-hitting welterweight contender Johny Hendricks says that he is different.

“It’s a feeling,” Hendricks told MMA Fighting on Monday. “It’s that desire, that want. It’s something inside of me that you can’t explain.

“Here’s the thing, you never know when you’re going to win, you never know when you’re going to lose. That’s the beauty of our sport. I believe that this is my time. I’ve done everything that I can, and realistically, in the last six and a half years, I’ve only lost once, too. I’m a lot younger fighter (than St-Pierre), and I’m still developing, which I’m very grateful for.”

In fact, if you ask Hendricks about his most recent 6-0 run that earned him a shot at the 170-lb. belt, he’ll tell you that he has yet to show the fans – and his opponents – everything that he has.

“Here’s the thing, is that I don’t have to showcase my whole skillset to win fights. I haven’t had to. Now this fight I might have to. I have jiu-jitsu, I have wrestling, I have power, I have striking. So where is the inexperience or the lack of something? Everybody keeps saying (it) every fight. ‘He’s fighting Kampmann, better striker. He’s fighting Condit, a better striker.’ Where did I win those fights at? Everybody keeps doubting me, and I love that. I absolutely love that.”

While Hendricks will look to implement parts of his fighting abilities yet to be seen, one thing that may hinder his success is the fact that he has yet to fight in a main event – which means he has yet to fight in a 5-round fight and with the added pressure of intense focus from the media.

“Man, I’ve been under the lights since my freshman year in high school,” Hendricks said, laughing off the idea that he is inexperienced with the attention. “I wrestled 140 matches in high school I wrestled 140 matches in college. That spotlight doesn’t get much more than that. I’ve been competing my whole life. Who cares about the spotlight? Who cares about all this other crap? I’m facing a man. I’m facing Georges St-Pierre. You see what I’m saying? Experience? I have plenty of experience.”

As far as the duration of the bout, Hendricks says he is ready for whatever comes.

“I was pushing myself to the limit every day that I possibly could,” he said. “I think, now, I am ready.”

Part of that daily grind included regular trips back to Oklahoma State University, Hendricks’ alma mater where he trained with top college wrestlers. The stints at OSU have helped so much that Hendricks’ coaches say he could stand a shot at trying out for the Olympic team.

“It’s hard. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a brutal grind, a constant grind; but that’s what I love about it. It’s a grind that you can’t get anywhere else, and that’s what this fight is going to be. It’s going to be a grind. If I have any chance of winning, I have to grind. I have to move forward, and that’s what wrestling has taught me through many years. That’s why I want to get back to those roots.

“One thing I’ve learned, if you watch all my fights, I push very, very hard the first two rounds, because I have to win two out of three, right? Well now I’ve got to win three out of five. So that changed up the way I’m looking for stuff. I’ve worked a lot on my boxing, a lot on my kickboxing, to not only just go for the kill, but also to set up the kill. That’s something that I’m looking forward to, to see how that adapts, see if I can translate what I’ve learned these last four months into the Octagon.”

Of course, Hendricks has a challenge ahead of him before he can get into the Octagon with St-Pierre: cutting down his weight to the division limit of 170 lbs. He says that goal will divert his focus from the media and glamour surrounding the UFC’s 20th anniversary in the week leading up to fight night.

“You enjoy the ride, but don’t focus on the ride,” said Hendricks. “I know it’s the 20th anniversary, but that’s at the back of my mind. My main focus is on Georges St-Pierre, of course, and right now it’s making 170. As soon as I make 170, then that’s when all the fun begins.”

You can catch UFC 167 live this Saturday from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card will air on Pay-Per-View at 10pm/7pm ETPT with preliminary cards streaming online at 6:30pm/3:30pm ETPT and on FOX Sports 1 at 8pm/5pm ETPT.

Agreed, I can’t deny he landed takedowns, over and over again. But thats the Only reason he won that fight. It pisses me off that he actually thinks he outstruck Condit, or beat Condit in the striking in anyway. Usually I comment on here with much less bias comments, but that statement is just ridiculous. He is getting way to big headed. He won’t beat GSP, he has power, but he doesn’t have the skill.

He said in the article that he always pushes the pace the first two rounds, because its a three round fight.. He specifically mentioned in the article that he has to pace himself b/c of it being a 5 rounder.. But who knows if it goes 5 rounds?.. Then again, with GSP in a fight, chances are high it will go 5 rounds.. lolz! just hope its a great fight.. The fight I am looking forward to though is Lawler/Rory..

Let’s face it, Hendricks will be the new champ. He’s explosive and skilled enough to knock out gsp (which he will) but I don’t think he will reign for very long. He loves his food and gasses after a few rounds. Time will come when he faces a more technical explosive fighter and there’s plenty out there. I’m just ready for a new champ, hopefully he doesn’t play it safe after he gets the belt.

Hendricks lost the condit fight. GSP seems like he’s getting a little meaner in these primetimes. His attitude has changed a bit. Wonder if he’ll try and finish this fight. Regardless he’s gotta watch those punches, Condit has one of the greatest Chins in MMA period. GSP does not. GSP will almost certainly win this fight, but he’d better not tempt fate.

interesting fight forsure but i think gsp takes it. A good strategy for hendricks would be to come out and try to take gsp down the first and maybe second round to get gsp’s mind off the left. Hendricks needs to be very stealthy with his power.

Johnny’s a smart guy surrounded by other smart guys. He’s gonna be ready and will have a good cut. I think Johnny’s speed combined with his power makes this a five round high risk affair. Condit shouldn’t be brought into this conversation unless your gonna factor he almost kicked Goerges’ face off.
This is a great match and I hope they both expose holes but if Johnny exposes a hole he’s gonna leave a hole. If Johnny can beat up on Goerges I don’t think he’ll deal with it well.
If Goerges can stay a step ahead I could see him forcing fatigue on Johnny if he gets stiff. Either a unanimous or a knockout but I’m hoping KO.

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